Did you know there is a difference between Yea-Sacc® 1026 and Brewer’s Yeast? All ‘yeast’ are not alike, and all brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) are not alike. Out of over 50 strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, very few have been scientifically shown to have the ability to stimulate growth of fiber-digesting bacteria. Yea-Sacc is one of […]
This excellent article on probiotics for horses, written by Joanne Meszoly, appeared in the December, 2014 issue of EQUUS. Since it answers many of the questions I receive, I hope you will find it informative. “So your horse is already a poster boy for healthy eating. He spends most of his time turned out in […]
Cases of laminitis and colic often increase during Fall, especially for those horses grazing on pasture. In fact, the increased sugars in grass caused by new growth and cooler night time temperatures, plus the increase in the horse’s blood ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) secretion from the pituitary gland can compound to make this a risky season […]
The photo above shows my mare, Lexi, in the spring of 2011. She is not quite obese, but she is fat, weighing in at 950 at 14.2 hands. In 2011 she was chosen to participate in a study by the University of Minnesota on Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) She is one of the breed types (Arabian) […]
As Winter turns to Spring, the risk of Spring grass related laminitis is a concern. Many of us need to become aware of the type of grass our horses are grazing on. I live in Linn County, Oregon, the Grass Seed Capitol of the World, (truly). Fescue Grass, some varieties of which were developed locally, is […]
Winter care for your horse usually involves extra concern about watering, feeding, and blanketing when temperatures fall below normal. Horses do become acclimatized to normal regional weather conditions… For example, horses in Southern California and Arizona don’t grow as much hair coat as horses in Montana. However, when weather conditions differ greatly from what is […]
How Do Probiotics Work? How Do Probiotics Help Keep the Horse Hindgut healthy? A common question asks how a probiotic such as Yea-Sacc 1026® can help with digestion in a horse’s hindgut. A previous blog post covered the horse’s foregut (esophagus, stomach, and small intestine) and how a prebiotic, such as Bio-Mos®, can help support the gastrointestinal tract […]
How Do Prebiotics Work in the Horse Foregut? How Do Prebiotics Help My Horse? Before answering these two common questions about prebiotics and the horse foregut of the digestive system; it helps to have an understanding of some basics of the horse’s digestive system. The horse digestive system is divided into two parts as shown in […]
Featured picture is of Erica S. and her horse, Leo, completing their first 100 mile endurance race in Sunriver, Oregon. Leo is a 14 year old Arabian gelding who was usually graded “C” on his gut sounds–even in shorter distance endurance races. After Erica put him on Yea-Sacc® 1 month prior to the race, Leo’s […]
Why can spring grass cause horse colic and laminitis problems? Spring grass is a diet change for the horse. It is higher in protein, lower in fiber, higher in sugars, and higher in moisture than hay or winter grasses. When spring grass is abundant, and horses are eating as much as they can, as fast as they […]